Ontario’s caribou under growing threat: CPAWS’ annual report

December 16, 2014

December 16, 2014 — Toronto, ON — In its second annual review of governments’ efforts to conserve Canada’s boreal caribou, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) finds that threats from industrial development to boreal woodland caribou have continued to increase while conservation and restoration efforts have shown little progress across the country.

CPAWS’ findings are reinforced by news from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) just days ago. The committee forecasts a greater than 30% decline of Canada’s boreal caribou population in the near term because “much of its habitat has been degraded … especially in the southern part of its range”.

“In Ontario we’re particularly concerned about a proposed 300km transmission line designed to supply power from Ignace/Dryden through high-risk caribou ranges to Pickle Lake; the five-year exemption for forestry activities from the Endangered Species Act; and active discussions of plans for roads, hydro lines and other infrastructure to allow industrial access to the Far North including the Ring of Fire,” said Anna Baggio, Director, Conservation Planning for CPAWS Wildlands League.